How I rewired my brain by giving up drinking. I used to be full of self-pity, now I confront negative thoughts and I am so much happier
- I knew the physical benefits I would get when I quit alcohol to prepare for the Hong Kong Marathon. I wasn’t expecting the psychological improvements
- My mental health is transformed. I can deal with negative emotions. It feels as if someone has taken sandpaper to all the rough edges in my life
When I decided to quit drinking in a bid to hit a personal best in next February’s Hong Kong Marathon, I knew the physical changes likely to come my way.
Studies have shown a wide range of benefits from abstaining, including weight loss, better sleep cycles, clearer skin and more overall energy throughout the day. I can attest, since abstaining from early May, that I experienced all these benefits.
What intrigued me more were the psychological changes I would likely encounter. According to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, even occasional drinking can inflict damage. In simple terms, studies show the brain starts adapting to alcohol’s presence, and adjusts its wiring accordingly.
A 2015 review of studies in the journal Alcohol Research suggests these changes in the brain may impact emotions, motivation, thought processing and decision making. As you can imagine, this isn’t good, whether you’re having a few pints a week, or a few every night.
The changes I’ve experienced have been subtle but profound. You do not notice them unless you pay close attention; when you do, you realise they are monumental. Sobriety has changed my entire being, making me more productive as I spend less time wallowing in self-pity and a lack of self-worth. As odd as this may sound, I don’t consciously realise how much happier I am because it has become the norm, not something out of the ordinary.